Barricade and sign



Aug. 27, 1940- l L. A. ROBERTS BARRICADE AND SIGN Filed May 5l, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l w .P Zw o WN f/ N @Mami A itoreys Aug. 27, A1940.

L. A. RvoBER-rs 2,212,504 BARRICADE AND SIGN Filed May 3l, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor .51, jaers By mdazn JM gunna.

A iarneys Patented Aug. 27, 1940 L ...2&212504 )UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE y f t I 2.212.504 l' e V, .e BARRIGADE AND SIGN Louie A. Roberts,` Jackson, Miss.;` l application May s1, 1939, seriai'Nq. 276,729

4 claims.A (cl. iii-458) The present invention relates to new and use- "ful improvements in barricades and signs particularlyfor highway bridgesand has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as herein- `after set forth, a device of this character which is permanently installed beneath the floor of a bridge and which will be automatically elevated to operative position should the bridge sag, collapse or some other'dangerous condition develop.

. )Another very important object of the invention is toprovide an'apparatusof the aforementioned character embodying novel means for releasably securingthe barricade in lowered or inoperative position below the surface of the bridge floor.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an automatic barricade which vsn'll be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost. n

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts' throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional viewshowing an embodiment of the invention installed `on a which has been illustrated comprises .a pair of l housings I which are suspended beneath the floor 2 of a bridge 3 adjacent the ends of said bridge.`

The bridge floor 2 has formed transversely therein slots 4 which communicate with the housings I. At the ends of the slots 4 channel guides 5 depend from the oor 2 in the housings I.

Mounted in the housings I and operable ver` tically in the slots 4 are plates or'panels 6 of any suitable construction. The panels 6 travel in the guides 5. The reference numeral .'I designates cables having one end connected to the side portions of the panelsB. The cables 'l are trained over pulleys 8 which are journaled in the upper are brackets portions of the housings I and said cables have connected to their other ends counter-Weights 9. 'Openings I0 in thebottoms ofthe housings I accommodate the cables 1. Signs Il are provided Von the upper portions of the panels 6. Plates I2 are secured on the upper edgesof the panels 6 for closingthe slots 4 injthe bridge floor 2.

Mounted on the inner sides of the housings I I3. Slidably mounted in the brackets I3 are bolts I4 which are projected by coil springsl, said bolts being engageable in the openingsIB which vare yprovided therefor inthe panels 6 for releasably securing said rpanels in lowered or inoperative position. Extending between the bolts I4 is a cable I1 having interposed therein a coupling I8. Guide pulleys I9 are provided for the cable I1. Pivotally suspendedy in the housings I are gravity actuated dogs 20 which are engageable beneath the panels 6 for positively securing saidpanels in raised or operative position.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The panels 6 are normally held in lowered or inoperative position against the' action of the weights 9 by the spring projected bolts I4 engaged in the openings I6. However, should the bridge sag dangerously or collapse between the housings I the bolts I4 will be retracted against the tension of the coil springs I by the cable I1 thereby freeing the panels 6. Panels 6 are then immediately raised to operative position above the bridge floor 2 by the weights 9, said panels sliding upwardly through the slots 4. It will thus be seen that the elements 'I, 8 and 9 constitute mechanical means for elevating the panels 6. The dogs 20 then swing by gravity beneath the lower'edges of the panels 6 for positively locking saidpanels in raised position. Thus, a barricadeA and sign is had at both ends of the bridge for preventing the passage of traino thereover and giving warning that said bridge is uniit for use. If desired, the barricades may be manually released should it be desired to halt traffic for any reason. Of course, the appa.`

ratus may be mounted for operation on highways as well as bridges. i

It is believed that the many advantages of an in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted `to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: 1. In a bridge `comprising a floor having slots therein, an automatic barricade comprising ver- 2. An automatic bridge barricade comprising housings mounted beneath the oor of a bridge at spaced points, said bridge floor having slots therein communicating with the housings, panels slidably mounted in the housings and operable in the slots, bolts releasably securing the panels in lowered position, a member connecting said bolts and extending beneath the oorfor engagement and actuation by said floor for retracting said bolts and releasing the panels should the iloor fall, and mechanical means for elevating the panels to operative position above the bridge iloor when said panels are released.`

3. An automatic bridge barricade ,comprising housings mounted beneath the oor of a bridge at spaced points, said bridge floor having slots therein communicating with thehousings, panels slidably mounted in the housings and operable in the slots, bolts releasably securing the panels in lowered position, a member connecting saidl bolts and extending beneath the floor for engagement and actuation by said floor for retracting said bolts for releasing the panels should the floor fall, and means for elevating the panels to operative position above the bridge floor when said panels are released, said means including pulleys journaled in the housings, cables trained over said pulleys and having one end connected to the panels, andweights connectedto the other ends of said cables. l

4. An automatic barricade for highway bridges comprising housings mounted beneath the iloor ofthe bridge adjacent the ends of said bridge, said bridge iloor having transversely extending slots therein communicating with the housings, channel guides depending from the bridge oor in the housings', panels slidable vertically in said guides and operable in the slots, said panels having openings therein, spring projected bolts slidably mounted on the housings and engageable in the openings for releasably securing the panels in lowered position, a cable connecting the bolts, said ycable extending beneath the floor for engagement and actuation by said floor should it fall thereby retracting theV bolts for releasing the panels, Weights operatively connected tothe panels for raising said panels to operative position, and gravity actuated dogs pivotally mounted in the housings and engageable beneath the panels for positively securing said panels in raisedposition. l

LOU'IE? A. ROBERTS. 

